You reset your phone or switched to a clean device. The app is gone. Nothing is installed. Yet a charge still appears on your card.
This situation is common because subscriptions are tied to accounts, not devices. A factory reset removes apps, not billing relationships.
Why Charges Can Appear After a Phone Reset
- Subscriptions remain active on the app store account
- Billing continues even if the app is not installed
- Resetting a device does not cancel recurring payments
- Cloud-linked accounts restore billing automatically
- No cancellation request was recorded before the reset
How to Check What’s Still Active
- Open your app store subscription settings
- Review active and expired subscriptions
- Check the billing account used before the reset
- Confirm renewal dates and payment status
What to Do to Stop Future Charges
- Cancel the subscription directly from the billing platform
- Confirm the cancellation status is saved
- Take a screenshot of the confirmation screen
- Monitor the next billing cycle for changes
Phone resets clear devices, not subscriptions. Once you understand where billing actually lives, unexpected charges become easier to prevent.